Progress Energy hauls will cause delays

Two projects this week hold the potential of creating traffic issues on several Wayne County roads.

The first will be Tuesday morning when Progress Energy will move large equipment to its new $900 million power plant being built on the Neuse River west of Goldsboro. A similar move was made Saturday morning.

The second, and unrelated project, will be the closing of the railroad crossing on Arrington Bridge Road at U.S. 117.

A large flashing sign at the crossing warns that the crossing will be closed Wednesday for repairs. Additional information was not available prior to press time this morning.

The Progress Energy move will begin around dawn Tuesday and will require several hours to complete.

The equipment will be offloaded at the rail siding at the Georgia-Pacific facility on the Old Mount Olive Highway at Dudley. From there the heavy-haul rigs will travel a 12.2-mile route:

* West on Sleepy Creek Road

* North on U.S. 117

* West on U.S. 13

* North on Providence Church Road

* West on Old Grantham Road

* North on Black Jack Church Road, ending at the power plant.

The return trip will be the reverse of that route and should move a little quicker.

The equipment, weighing up to 325 tons, will be transported on rigs as long as 110 feet, as wide as 20 feet and with as many as 18 axles.

State Department of Transportation rules require that the moves be made during daylight hours Monday through Saturday. Wayne County sheriff's deputies and the Highway Patrol will be involved in traffic control during the moves.

Law enforcement escorting the rigs will decide whether vehicles will be able to pass the rigs.